Shoe form



Nov. 20 1923.

w. c. RICHAQDSON SHOE FORM Filed April '2. 1922 1407/0111 5 EVE/707 050, l nvenTcn'z bum Arrcrrneg.

Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

WILLARD C. RICHARDSON, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE FORM.

Application filed April '7,

7'0 all cello/n may concern.

Be it known that I, lVILLARn (l. helium soN, a citizen oi. the United States, residing at Saugus, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Forms, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others versed in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to shoe forms, and more particularly to improved means of varying the length and width of shoe forms so as to render them adaptable at will for use in shoes. of various sizes.

The objects of my invention are to furnish an improved shoe form construction allowing without adjustment or mechanical action the expanding and contracting of that portion of the form which contacts with the shoe upper within which it is used; to provide in a shoe form an adjustable expanding, force exerting, an outward pressure against the walls of the form when tightly fitted within a shoe; to materially reduce the weight of shoe forms; to eliminate all unnecessary parts, and to allow unobstructed inspection of the finish on the interior of the shoe when the shoe form is in position therein.

I accomplish the objects of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side view of my improved shoe form. Figure 2 shows a bottom view. Figure 3 shows the detail of my pressure unit by means of which the expanding force is exerted.

In Figure 1, A shows the ball portion of the shoe form. B shows the counter portion C shows the pressure unit or expanding spring. D shows the rivets by means of which the spring C is secured to the ball,

and counter portions. It will be understood that when my improved form is fitted tight ly in a shoe the spring C exerts a pressure against the counter portion at GK, and against the ball portion at CY and CZ, causing the ball portion to expand, thus making taut the shoe upper. This tautness is much to be desired in the display of shoes 1922. Serial No. 550,355.

and is automatically maintained by using my improved shoe form.

While adjustable shoe forms have hereto- :tore been made they have been much more limited in the scope of their adjustments than is my improved form.

It will be understood that I do not desire to confine myself to the specifically described construction and relative arrangement of parts inasmuch as future practice of the in- 150 vention may require such various changes and modifications as can well fall within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I 1' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America:

1. In a shoe form, a counter portion, a ball portion, and an expanding and contracting unit connecting the said portions. T said unit comprising a spring having alternate bends adapted to lie fiat against the shank of the shoe permitting the stretching and contracting of the form to fit shoes of various slzes. T5

2. A. shoe form comprising acounter portion and a ball portion shaped to substantially conform to the heel part and fore part,

respectively, of a shoe, and an expansion. spring connecting the said portions and being normally distended therebetween for holding the shoe form yieldingly expanded, said spring having alternate bends permit: ting the contraction and expansion of the said spring longitudinally of its length for accommodating the shoe form to shoes of various sizes. I

3. A shoe form comprising a counter portion and a ball portion shaped to substan tially conform to the heel part and tore part respectively of a shoe, and an expansion spring joining the said portions and being normally in expansion thereloetween to yieldingly hold the shoe form distended, said spring being disposed to lie fiat across the arch of the shoe and having diagonal bends permitting contraction and expansion of the said spring longitudinally of its length to accommodate the shoe form to shoes of various sizes.

i. A shoe form having separate form portlons for engagmg the heel part and the fore part respectlvely of a shoe, and it connecting sprlng ]o1ning the said form portions and presenting independent contractible and expansible sections arranged to exert pressure bothlongitudinally and transversely of the shoe form for 'yieldingly holdingthe same distended in both length and width to fit shoes of various sizes.

In testimony whereol I afiix my signature in the presence 01 two Witnesses.

' WILLARD G. RICHARDSON. Witnesses v "A: GERTRUDE JOHNSON, CHARLESVVJLOVETT. 

